China's first province-wide early warning system on floods with the application of high technology started operation Monday in coastal Fujian Province.
It marks the increased capability of disaster forecast and prevention in Fujian, which records more disasters as a result of its geographical location and unique climate.
The province is hit by four to five typhoons every year, adding to the frequency of floods.
Statistics from local water resources department show that losses brought about by floods, either caused by heavy rainfall or by typhoons, can amount to nearly 10 billion yuan a year.
Started in 1994, the system involves a total investment of 268 million yuan. A total of 306 automatic water level remote-measuring stations were built in all of the main rivers to provide instant information to the central headquarters.
The system covers 85 percent of the provincial area.
(People's Daily 03/06/2001)
